One hundred employees participated in the lecture-forum on Anti-VAWC and Anti-Sexual Harassment Law last March 20, 2018. This activity was spearheaded by the Gender and Development of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 8 in celebration of the National Women’s Month.

Raising public awareness on Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262) and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (RA 7877) to both male and female employees was the main objective of lecture- forum.

Atty. Mel Jun A. Diasanta and Atty. Adonis M. Ofanda were the resource speakers of the one-day event with morning and afternoon sessions. The two lawyers educated the participants on the details of the two laws and the processes of filing cases if there are incidents of such abuses.

Women were encouraged to exercise their rights of law but were cautioned to be responsible in their actions. According to Atty. Ofanda, “the intention of the law is to preserve the family. Men were also urged to provide support to their children, and give the needs of their family including their partners.

Both lawyers advised that filing a case against a person or their partner is not the best solution but rather fixing the relations of the family. Also, Atty. Diansanta presented some real cases filed in court involving abused women and children that seem to be an eye opener to the participants.

In addition, the participants were able to ask questions and get free legal advice from the two lawyers.

The speakers urge the participants to respect women, support their children, love their family and share what they learned to other people and be advocates of women’s rights.

Photo Releases

DENR 8 Regional Director Atty. Crizaldy Barcelo accepts the Chairmanship of Eastern Visayas’ Regional Ecotourism Committee (REC) for a three-year term from the Department of Tourism represented by its Officer-In-Charge, Ma. Trinidad Dacuycuy.

Scenic feature of the Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape and Seascape attract local and foreign tourists. To protect the area, the CIPLS PAMB limits its tourists to 500 per day.

Some of the retired key officials and employees of DENR pose for a picture with DENR Regional Director, Atty. Crizaldy Barcelo.

DENR 8 Regional Director Crizaldy M. Barcelo (L) presents Certificates of Recognition to partners in law enforcement for their invaluable support and contributions to environmental law enforcement operations in Eastern Visayas.

Tacloban City communities join this year’s #InternationalCoastalCleanUp activities. DENR Region 8, together with other government agencies and private institutions joined hands in cleaning up the coastal areas and waterways within the city.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu recently visited the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Samar in Catbalogan City. During his interface with DENR employees in Samar province, Secretary Cimatu laid his plans to help reduce poverty. Among these are increasing livelihood opportunities through the Enhanced National Greening Program (E-NGP), reinventing mining to ensure that the country’s mineral resources will benefit the people without compromising the environment, and promoting cacao commodity to augment the livelihood of NGP PO beneficiaries in Samar.